Reuters: Saddam says responsible for any Iran gas attacks

[Eugene]

Saddam says responsible for any Iran gas attacks
18 Dec 2006 15:14:42 GMT
Source: Reuters

-snip-

By Ahmed Rasheed

BAGHDAD, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Saddam Hussein said on Monday he would take responsibility
"with honour" for any attacks on Iran using conventional or chemical weapons during the
1980-1988 war but he took issue with charges he ordered attacks on Iraqis.

The former president and six others are on trial for the Anfal -- Spoils of War --
military campaign against ethnic Kurds in northern Iraq in the 1980s in which prosecutors
say up to 180,000 people were killed in gas attacks and mass executions.

"In relation to Iran, if any military or civil official claims that Saddam gave orders to
use either conventional or special ammunition, which as explained is chemical, I will take
responsibility with honour," Saddam told the court.

But he added: "I will discuss any act committed against our people and any Iraqi citizen,
whether Arab or Kurdish. I don't accept any insult to my principles or to me personally."

-snip-

Full article: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L1871948.htm

Also from Reuters...

Saddam trial shown govt memos about gas attacks
18 Dec 2006 13:00:33 GMT
Source: Reuters

By Ahmed Rasheed

BAGHDAD, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Prosecutors who accuse Saddam Hussein of genocide by
ordering chemical attacks on Kurds produced documentary evidence at his trial on
Monday in a new phase crucial to pinning down his personal responsibility.

-snip-

The witness phase is over, and when the trial resumed on Monday prosecutors turned
to the documentary evidence.

They presented a series of documents from Iraq's military intelligence, the president's
office and military commanders detailing the chain of command and orders given for the
use of chemical weapons.

The first document was a 1987 memo from Iraq's military intelligence seeking permission
from the president's office to use mustard gas and the nerve agent sarin against Kurds.
It also used the term "special ammunition" in what prosecutors said was a reference to
chemical weapons.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/PAR843520.htm

[xultar]

1. So. I suppose Bush likes that? Enemy of my enemy is my friend deal?

:crazy:

[Kagemusha]

2. Bush doesn't believe in command responsibility, why would he like it?

It's Saddam trying to show other world leaders up now that he has nothing left to lose but his life.

[GreenZoneLT]

3. I actually got to sit in on a day of the trial

Saddam's lawyers appeared to be steering the testimony in the direction of saying the Kurds were just Iranians, anyway, and the peshmerga were a foreign fighting force.

Sort of hurt him that they dug a large number of Iraqi passports and other ID out of a mass grave near Tikrit, and had the victims' relatives testify that they lived in the area of the "al Anfal" campaign.

[Norquist Nemesis]

4. Welcome to DU!

And thank you for your service! :hi:

[Joe for Clark]

6. Wow -Watching a piece of history unfold.

Pretty cool.

I hope you come out of this mess OK GreenZone.

Joe

[Roland99]

5. Any of those documents include receipts from American companies?